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USBC modifies lane dressing inspection requirements

USBC Equipment Specifications and Certification

The United States Bowling Congress has changed its requirements for lane dressing inspections.

Effective Aug. 1, USBC local associations will be required to perform a minimum of one lane dressing inspection per season at each bowling center in their jurisdictions holding USBC-certified competition. Additional inspections will be performed at the discretion of local association officials or the national office.

The USBC Equipment Specifications and Certification Committee recently approved eliminating the previous requirement that an inspection is required 30 days prior to or within 30 days of an honor score being rolled in USBC-certified competition.

"The adoption of the proposal will lessen the workload of associations by reducing the number of required inspections," said USBC Technical Director Neil Stremmel (pictured). "However, the new initiative still will allow associations to conduct additional inspections based on their own judgment."

"Should situations arise, association managers should make every effort to contact USBC immediately," Stremmel said. "USBC may be put in a position to take action against bowling centers when it is deemed necessary to protect our bowlers."

The new requirement for ensuring that bowling centers meet compliance standards for lane dressing will free up valuable time to allow local associations and their area proprietors to improve and promote local association and state tournaments, Sport Bowling leagues (including PBA Experience leagues), membership processing and membership retention, Stremmel noted. Additional inspections may also be performed as a service for proprietors.

The committee also approved the elimination of point assessments against bowling centers where lane dressing inspections resulted in noncompliance with the three-unit dressing rule.

"Our plan is for the local associations to work with bowling centers to verify lane dressing compliance, then assist them to maintain a fair and legitimate scoring condition," Stremmel said.